MIPCOM 2014-10 Original Scandi Dramas To Watch

During the 30th MIPCOM in Cannes (October 13-16), around 30 new Scandi TV dramas and co-productions will be introduced to world buyers. Here are ten titles ready or soon to be delivered to watch out for.

Acquitted: On the road to RedemptionThe character-driven Norwegian drama Acquitted (Frikjent) written by Siv Rajendram Eliasssen and Anne-Bache-Wiig focuses on a businessman (Nicolai Cleve Broch – pictured) who returns to his native town 20 years after being acquitted for the murder of his high school sweetheart, but the past has not been forgotten. Geir Henning Hopland (Lilyhammer) and Rune Denstad Langlo (North) are directing the show produced by Miso Film Norway for TV2 Norway. FremantleMedia International handles world distribution. The Norwegian premiere is set for spring 2015.

Blue Eyes: thriller in Swedish political circlesSwedish writer Alex Haridi (Real Humans 2) is behind the conspiracy thriller Blue Eyes (Ögon blå) directed by Henrik Georgsson (The Bridge) and Fredrik Edfeldt (The Girl). Strix Drama is producing the 10×60’ show in co-production with SVT. The premiere is set for November 2014. ZDFE handles world distribution.

Broke: The Fun in Dysfunctional DR’s new drama series Broke/Bankerot (16×28’ or 8×42’) to be aired daily from October 17 reunites Danish writer Kim Fupz Aakeson and director Henrik Ruben Genz. The Danish series tells of a bunch of dysfunctional characters with many talents except the ability to get their heads around their lives. Malene Blenkov is producing. DR Sales handles world distribution.

Eyewitness: crime with a twistThe 6×60’ Norwegian Eyewitness (Øyenvitne) written and directed by the experienced Jarl Emsell Larsen is a fast-paced thriller and relationship drama about a pair of illicitly gay teenagers who witness a terrible crime. NRK’s in-house drama will air on NRK1 on October 20. DRG handles world distribution.

Occupied: Russian move into NorwayThe multi-layered Norwegian political thriller Occupied (Okkupert) based on an original idea by Jo Nesbø is set in the near future where Russia, on behalf of the EU, has staged a ‘silk-glove’ invasion of Norway in order to control its oil. The 10×60’ series directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg is co-produced by Yellow Bird, GTV, TV2 Norway and ARTE. Zodiak Rights handles sales. The Norwegian TV premiere is set for the autumn 2015.

Struggle for Life: Satire of Norwegian Middle ClassEstablished Norwegian writers Per Schreiner, Bjørn Olaf Johanessen and Erlend Loe have teamed up for the dramedy about Norway’s middle class Struggle for Life (Kampen for tilværelsen). The NRK show (commissioned as two 8×60’seasons) is currently airing and has been nominated for the Prix Europa 2014. DRG handles sales.

Tellus: Non-friendly eco group under the spotlightThe 6×50’ Finnish eco-thriller Tellus produced in-house by YLE was written and directed by J.P. Siili (Selänne). A group of activists have executed a series of eco-motivated sabotages, carefully planned not to harm people. But one day things go wrong and a person is killed. YLE and ZDFE share world distribution.

The Team: EU JIT in actionBased on an idea by Emmy-award-winning Danish writing duo Peter Thorsboe and Mai Brostrøm, The Team (8×60’ or 4×115’) portrays a group of European police officers fighting international crime. Kathrine Windfeld (The Bridge) directs. The series was produced by Network Movie, Nordisk Film, Lunamine/Lumiere, Superfilm in association with C-Films for ZDF, in cooperation with SVT, DR, ARTE, among others. Airing is set for early 2015. ZDFE handles world distribution.

The Heavy Water War: Fighting weapons of mass destructionThe 6×45’ Norwegian WW2 drama The Heavy Water War (Kampen om tungtvannet) written by Petter Rosenlund centres on the allies’ struggle to prevent Hitler from getting his hands on the atomic bomb. Per-Olav Sørensen (The Half Brother) is directing. The Filmkameratene production is set to air on NRK end of 2014/early 2015. SF International handles sales.

100 Code: N.Y./Stockholm team up against crimeCreated by Academy–award-winning Bobby Moresco (Crash), 100 Code stars Michael Nyqvist as a Swedish cop who has to put his own prejudice aside and team up with a colleague from the NYPD-US star Dominic Monaghan- to investigate a series of crimes. The 12×45’ series produced by 100 Code AB and Paris-based Zen Productions was Sky Deutschland’s first international drama co-production. Kanal 5 Sweden will air it in 2015. Red Arrow International handles world distribution.

Emma Vestrheim is the editor-in-chief of Cinema Scandinavia. Originally from Australia, she is know based in Bergen, Norway, and attends major Nordic film festivals to conduct interviews and review new films.